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#JusJoJan the 2nd/23 – Constellation of characters

As I contemplated what I could write on the subject of Willow’s excellent prompt of the day, I decided to go to the dictionary to see what beyond the stars I could write.

And as I thought about it some more, I came to realize that I tend to write the same sort of characters in all my books. That is to say characters all of a sort that have deep issues. Issues of longing, of hardship, of loves lost.

Some of my characters deal with their issues with laughter—they tend to end up in my romantic comedies.

Some of my characters deal with their issues in a more angsty way, as in my paranormal series, “The Great Dagmaru,” and another dark romance that’s been gathering steam in my imagination.

But they’re all part of a constellation in my mind. They’re with me constantly … perhaps helping me sort out my own issues.

***

This contemplative post is brought to you by Just Jot it January and Willow! Thanks so much again, Willow, for the great prompt. Please be sure to check out her blog.

For Just Jot it January, click the following link to see how you, too, can join in! https://lindaghill.com/2023/01/02/daily-prompt-jusjojan-the-2nd-2023/ It’s fun!


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Daily Prompt – JusJoJan the 2nd, 2023

Welcome to the daily prompt! Today is your second prompt for Just Jot it January 2023, and it’s brought to you by Willow. Thank you, Willow! Please be sure to visit Willow’s blog to read her post and say hello. And follow her while you’re there, if you’re not already.

Your prompt for JusJoJan January 2nd 2023, is “constellation.” Use the word “constellation” any way you’d like. Have fun!

If you’d like to see what I have so far on your prompt list, you can find it HERE.

Here are the rules:

1. Please be sure to link back to THIS POST for January 2nd, 2023.

2. Just Jot It January starts January 1st, but it’s never too late to join in! Here, we run on the honour system; the “jot it” part of JusJoJan means that anything you jot down, anywhere (it doesn’t have to be a post, it can even be a grocery list), counts as a “jot.” If it makes it to your blog that day, great! If it waits a week to get from a sticky note to your screen, no problem!

3. I’ll post prompts at 2am my time (GMT -5). You don’t have to follow the prompt every day, but that will be where you leave your link for others to see. You’ll get a prompt for every day except Wednesday, when the prompt is simply my One-Liner Wednesday and on Saturday, when your prompt will be the Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS, which will appear at about 9:30am Friday. Each prompt post will include the rules.

4. Please ping back or link to the daily prompt. To ping back, just copy the URL from the daily prompt post, and paste it anywhere in your post. Check to make sure your link shows up where you want it to, and go back occasionally to see other bloggers’ entries – the more you visit others, the more they’ll visit you! Note: A) The newest pingbacks will be at the top of the comments section. B) Ping backs only work if you’re blogging on WordPress. Everyone else must paste a link manually.

5. Tag your post JusJoJan and/or #JusJoJan.

6. Write anything! Any length will do! It can even be a photo or a drawing – you’re going to title it, right? There’s your jot!

7. The prompts will appear every day that’s neither a Wednesday nor a Saturday–Saturday’s JusJoJan prompt will be Stream of Consciousness Saturday. You’ll find the list of prompts below as they come in, which means I’ll be updating this post. Remember, you don’t have to use the prompts. Please write whatever inspires you. NOTE: If your post is NSFW, do not ping back. Please leave your link in the comments with a warning.

8. If you’d like to, use the JusJoJan badge so that others can find your post more easily.

9. Have fun!


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#JusJoJan the 1st/23 – One resolution

I have one resolution for 2023 and that’s to organize my numerous goals.

Now, I’m sure you’re like, what the heck, Linda? Isn’t having goals just a subset of having resolutions?

Nuh-uh. It’s better than that.

I’ve spent the better part of the last year failing at most of the things I wanted to accomplish on a personal level. My freelance editing business is going very well, and I always manage to get projects done on time, if not early. But the stuff I wanted to do that isn’t on a deadline, i.e. writing my own books? Not so much.

So rather than resolving to write and publish, say, two or three of my own creations this year, I’m going more granular, by organizing my time so I can see what I can reasonably get done in the space of 365 days.

It’s easy to think “I’ll just scroll through Facebook and get to work on my own novel—the one no one is holding me accountable for—later.” But then five minutes on Facebook turns into hours and then I think “It’s okay, I’ll do it tomorrow!”

It’s the rinse and repeat that never ends.

Unless I organize myself.

So yeah, that’s my resolution. Set timers, work when I know I’ll have a chance, organize my time, figure out how long each step takes, and rinse and repeat that instead.

Sounds like a solid plan, right?

I’ll let you know how it goes.

P.S. I looked through my resolutions/bucket lists from past years and there’s one item I’m still striving for. In 2016 I said I wanted to spend a weekend alone in my home. Since then, I don’t think I’ve even had an hour alone. I’ll get there, though. Watch out for the boot, kids! 😉

***

This determined and mildly threatening post is brought to you by Just Jot it January! Click the following link to see how you, too, can join in! https://lindaghill.com/2023/01/01/daily-prompt-jusjojan-the-1st-2023/ It’s fun!


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Daily Prompt – JusJoJan the 1st, 2023

Welcome to the daily prompt! It’s the first official prompt for Just Jot it January 2023, and it’s brought to you by me. I figured I’d give everyone something easy as many of us are celebrating today (or recovering from celebrating last night). And on that note, Happy New Year! Here’s your rather unoriginal but always on everyone’s minds word of the day:

Your prompt for JusJoJan January 1st 2023, is “resolution.” Use the word “resolution” any way you’d like. Have fun!

If you’d like to see what I have so far on your prompt list, you can find it HERE.

Here are the rules:

1. Please be sure to link back to THIS POST for January 1st, 2023.

2. Just Jot It January starts January 1st, but it’s never too late to join in! Here, we run on the honour system; the “jot it” part of JusJoJan means that anything you jot down, anywhere (it doesn’t have to be a post, it can even be a grocery list), counts as a “jot.” If it makes it to your blog that day, great! If it waits a week to get from a sticky note to your screen, no problem!

3. I’ll post prompts at 2am my time (GMT -5). You don’t have to follow the prompt every day, but that will be where you leave your link for others to see. You’ll get a prompt for every day except Wednesday, when the prompt is simply my One-Liner Wednesday and on Saturday, when your prompt will be the Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS, which will appear at about 9:30am Friday. Each prompt post will include the rules.

4. Please ping back or link to the daily prompt. To ping back, just copy the URL from the daily prompt post, and paste it anywhere in your post. Check to make sure your link shows up where you want it to, and go back occasionally to see other bloggers’ entries – the more you visit others, the more they’ll visit you! Note: A) The newest pingbacks will be at the top of the comments section. B) Ping backs only work if you’re blogging on WordPress. Everyone else must paste a link manually.

5. Tag your post JusJoJan and/or #JusJoJan.

6. Write anything! Any length will do! It can even be a photo or a drawing – you’re going to title it, right? There’s your jot!

7. The prompts will appear every day that’s neither a Wednesday nor a Saturday–Saturday’s JusJoJan prompt will be Stream of Consciousness Saturday. You’ll find the list of prompts below as they come in, which means I’ll be updating this post. Remember, you don’t have to use the prompts. Please write whatever inspires you. NOTE: If your post is NSFW, do not ping back. Please leave your link in the comments with a warning.

8. If you’d like to, use the JusJoJan badge so that others can find your post more easily.

9. Have fun!


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Just Jot it January 2023 – The Rules!

Welcome, one and all to the ninth annual Just Jot it January challenge!

Just Jot it January, AKA JusJoJan, is a challenge to write a post every day of the month of January. To start the year off with a a blogging bang, and to meet others in the blogging community. It’s fun!

Here are the simple JusJoJan Rules:

1. Just Jot It January starts January 1st, but it’s never too late to join in! Here, we run on the honour system; the “jot it” part of JusJoJan means that anything you jot down, anywhere (it doesn’t have to be a post, it can even be a grocery list), counts as a “jot.” If it makes it to your blog that day, great! If it waits a week to get from a sticky note to your screen, no problem!

2. I’ll post prompts at 2am my time (GMT -5). You don’t have to follow the prompt every day, but that will be where you leave your link for others to see. You’ll get a prompt for every day except Wednesday, when the prompt is simply my One-Liner Wednesday and on Saturday, when your prompt will be the Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS, which will appear at about 9:30am Friday. Each prompt post will include the rules.

3. Please ping back or link to the daily prompt. To ping back, just copy the URL from the daily prompt post, and paste it anywhere in your post. Check to make sure your link shows up where you want it to, and go back occasionally to see other bloggers’ entries – the more you visit others, the more they’ll visit you! Note: A) The newest pingbacks will be at the top of the comments section. B) Ping backs only work if you’re blogging on WordPress. Everyone else must paste a link manually.

4. Tag your post JusJoJan and/or #JusJoJan.

5. Write anything! Any length will do! It can even be a photo or a drawing – you’re going to title it, right? There’s your jot!

6. The prompts will appear every day that’s neither a Wednesday nor a Saturday–Saturday’s JusJoJan prompt will be Stream of Consciousness Saturday. You’ll find the list of prompts below as they come in, which means I’ll be updating this post. Remember, you don’t have to use the prompts. Please write whatever inspires you. NOTE: If your post is NSFW, do not ping back. Please leave your link in the comments with a warning.

7. If you’d like to, use the JusJoJan badge so that others can find your post more easily.

8. Have fun!

Below, I’ll fill in the prompts as I have them, along with a link to the blog of the person who supplied the prompt if it wasn’t me.

January 1 – Resolution (me)

January 2 – Constellation (Willow @ https://willowdot21.wordpress.com)

January 3 – Solo (Dar @ https://darsword.wordpress.com/)

January 4 – One-Liner Wednesday

January 5 – Cancer (Lauren @ https://lssattitudeofgratitude.wordpress.com)

January 6 – Sweet (Ritu Bhathal @ http://www.butismileanyway.com)

January 7 – SoCS (“out of the box”)

January 8 – Friendship (JezzieG @ https://jezzieg.com/)

January 9 – Endurance (Destiny @ https://destinysdesignz.wordpress.com/)

January 10 – Periwinkle (Maggie @ https://fromcavewalls.wordpress.com/)

January 11 – One-Liner Wednesday

January 12 – Donut (Liz Husebye Hartmann @ https://valleyofthetrolls.blog/)

January 13 – Reversal (Sadje @ http://lifeafter50forwomen.wordpress.com)

January 14 – SoCS (“Once upon a time”)

January 15 – Gratitude (Carol Anne @ http://therapybits.com/)

January 16 – Optimism (June @ https://jaquintinwriter.wordpress.com/)

January 17 – Hyphenated (Sally @ https://hotdogsandmarmalade.wordpress.com/)

January 18 – One-Liner Wednesday

January 19 – Complaint (John @ http://thesoundofonehandtyping.com/)

January 20 – Phantom (Tuba @ https://tubasarwat.wordpress.com/)

January 21 – SoCS (“count on it”)

January 22 – Seasonal (Kaye @ https://kayespencer.com/blog-2/)

January 23 – Paintbrush (Paula Light @ http://lightmotifs.wordpress.com/)

January 24 – Ideal (Astrid @ https://astridetal.com/)

January 25 – One-Liner Wednesday

January 26 – Family (J-Dub @ https://jilywily.wordpress.com/)

January 27 – Amenities (Kim Smyth @ https://inkonapage.com/)

January 28 – SoCS (“throw in the towel”)

January 29 – Exercise (Wendy @ https://waffle-with-wendy.blogspot.com/)

January 30 – Canine (Dawn @ https://dawnbenedict.wordpress.com/)

January 31 – Write (me)


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A Belated #JusJoJan the 18th – Cycle

As promised, I’m catching up on the #JusJoJan posts. The prompt for this post was brought to you by Just Jot it January in February and JoAnna! Check out JoAnna’s latest blog post here!

***

It was around this time last year when I bought a treadmill. The only place to put it was the living room, which is handy, I suppose. I can use it and keep an eye on Alex at the same time. And when he uses it, he can still watch TV. But the treadmill is very heavy and can’t be moved much, and it takes up a lot of room. So much so, that I often wish I’d bought a stationary bike instead. However as much as I like to cycle, I like walking more.

It’s a conundrum.

I used to love cycling when I was a teenager. I’d spend hours riding my ten-speed around town. I probably haven’t been on a bike in close to forty years.

But they say once you learn, you never forget.

Maybe one day I’ll put that theory to the test.

***

Watch out for Just Jot it January next year. It’s fun!


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A Belated #JusJoJan the 17th – Joy

As promised, I’m catching up on the #JusJoJan posts. The prompt for this post was brought to you by Just Jot it January in February and Indieshe! Check out Indieshe’s blog here!

***

I’m generally a joyful person.

I tend to find the silver lining in things.

Or at least the platinum lining.

The nickel lining?

Okay, sometimes it’s plastic. But it’s happy plastic.

I drank some wine the other night. That made me joyful.

Until it made me tired.

It was the last bottle of the batch of 30 I made, like, more than two years ago, before Christmas of 2019.

I used to drink enough wine to make batches of it worthwhile.

But now?

Not so much.

I find not a lot of joy in a bottle. Just sleepiness.

But you see? Wine comes in glass bottles.

Not happy plastic.

***

Watch out for Just Jot it January next year. It’s fun!


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Just Jot it January 2022 – We did it!

Woohoo! The 9th annual Just Jot it January is in the bag!

We’ve had a snowy, indoors kind of January this year, but I did manage to jot something every day this month. I’m so glad I went back to the regular format for JusJoJan this year. And we had some really amazing prompts! Thanks to all who suggested them. 😀

How did you do? Did you post every day in January? Did you at least jot something somewhere? Let me know in the comments, or write your own “I did it! #JusJoJan22 Edition” post and link it back here.

Congrats to everyone who joined in! Here’s your annual participant badge.


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#JusJoJan the 31st – Being facetious

Who knew it was possible to hit the finish line after missing half the race?

Seems like I took a shortcut.

More like I got lost. Because it wasn’t intentional.

However, I did follow the Just Jot it January rules: I’ve written 20,375 words on one project, and edited 91 pages on another. Plus I’ve beta-read two other people’s books and written ten pages of feedback for each. And I published a boxed set of Books 1-3 of my paranormal magician series. ( <– That’s a link to the stores that have uploaded it so far. 😀 Apple and B&N are coming.)

So what about this post is funny or facetious? Maybe the first line. Funny is hard when you feel guilty, as it turns out.

I still plan to post for the prompts I missed, belated as they’ll be.

In the meantime, thanks so much for hanging in there with me! I’ll be back tomorrow with a wrap up post and your participation badge.

See you then. 🙂

***

This frustrating post is brought to you by Just Jot it January and Susan! Check out Susan’s post here! Click the following link to see how you, too, can join in! https://lindaghill.com/2022/01/31/daily-prompt-jusjojan-the-31st-2022/ It’s fun!


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Daily Prompt – JusJoJan the 31st, 2022

Hi there! I’m here with your final Daily Prompt of 2022. Today is January 31st, so this is the 31st prompt for Just Jot it January 2022, and it’s brought to us by Susan. Thank you, Susan! Please be sure to visit her blog to read her post and say hello. And follow her while you’re there, if you’re not already.

Your prompt for JusJoJan January 31st, 2022, is “facetious.” Use the word “facetious” any way you’d like. Enjoy!

If you’d like to see what I have so far on your prompt list, you can find it HERE.

Here are the rules:

1. Please be sure to link back to THIS POST for January 31st, 2022.

2. Just Jot It January starts January 1st, but it’s never too late to join in! Here, we run on the honour system; the “jot it” part of JusJoJan means that anything you jot down, anywhere (it doesn’t have to be a post, it can even be a grocery list), counts as a “jot.” If it makes it to your blog that day, great! If it waits a week to get from a sticky note to your screen, no problem!

3. I’ll post prompts at 2am my time (GMT -5). You don’t have to follow the prompt every day, but that will be where you leave your link for others to see. You’ll get a prompt for every day except Wednesday, when the prompt is simply my One-Liner Wednesday and on Saturday, when your prompt will be the Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS, which will appear at about 9:30am Friday. Each prompt post will include the rules.

4. Please ping back or link to the daily prompt. To ping back, just copy the URL from the daily prompt post, and paste it anywhere in your post. Check to make sure your link shows up where you want it to, and go back occasionally to see other bloggers’ entries – the more you visit others, the more they’ll visit you! Note: A) The newest pingbacks will be at the top of the comments section. B) Ping backs only work if you’re blogging on WordPress. Everyone else must paste a link manually.

5. Tag your post JusJoJan and/or #JusJoJan.

6. Write anything! Any length will do! It can even be a photo or a drawing – you’re going to title it, right? There’s your jot!

7. The prompts will appear every day that’s neither a Wednesday nor a Saturday–Saturday’s JusJoJan prompt will be Stream of Consciousness Saturday. You’ll find the list of prompts below as they come in, which means I’ll be updating this post. Remember, you don’t have to use the prompts. Please write whatever inspires you. NOTE: If your post is NSFW, do not ping back. Please leave your link in the comments with a warning.

8. If you’d like to, use the JusJoJan badge so that others can find your post more easily.

9. Have fun!